Clarry Conners makes no apologies for putting Dear Demi through a demanding lead-up to the Caulfield Cup which has included two serious gallops in four days.

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Chasing his first Caulfield Cup win, Conners says the four-year-old mare is the type of horse which must be pushed to get the best out of her.

“I was undecided whether to run her last Saturday or have a hard gallop,” Conners said.

“I decided on the latter, and gave her a hard workout and another one this morning.”

Damien Oliver partered Dear Demi in the 1600m workout and gave Conners a positive report.

Conners said Dear Demi’s three races leading up to the Group One race – the Let’s Elope Stakes, the Underwood Stakes and the Turnbull Stakes – have provided the right foundation for the Caulfield Cup.

“She’s as good as she’s ever been going into this race,” Conners said.

Dear Demi won the VRC Oaks last year and Conners says the Caulfield Cup distance of 2400m holds no fears.

“She’s a very relaxed horse and I don’t think the 2400 metres will be any problem,” he said.

“But saying that, she ran 2500 metres as a three year-old but when they come on to an older age some horses can’t run the distance, but she’s a horse that can.”

Conners said if Dear Demi raced well on Saturday she would head to the Melbourne Cup via the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on November 2.

James McDonald will ride Dear Demi on Saturday.